FAIRBURY – JOHN R. "DOC" McDONALD D.D.S., 85, of Fairbury, died at 9:40 PM, Saturday, December 30, 2006 at Heartland Manor Care, Paxton, IL. His passing was due to Merkel Cell Cancer.

His funeral will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at the First Baptist Church of Fairbury. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, January 2, 2006 at the Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Burial will take place at Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury with full Military rites accorded by the Fairbury V.F.W Post #9789. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Fairbury or Heartland Manor Care, Paxton, IL

Dr. McDonald was born December 8, 1921, in Westmore, IL to Finlay and Elinor (Keiser) McDonald. He was a graduate of DePaul Academy in 1939 and graduated from the University of Illinois Dental School in 1950. He served in the US Air Force as a Combat Pilot in Europe in WW II. He also served in the Korean War as a Dentist, in the rank of Captain in Korea and Japan from 1950 – 1952. He flew Paratroopers in the 101st Airborne in Normandy and the 82nd in Holland and Southern France.

He practiced Dentistry in Fairbury from 1953 – 1986, was a life member of Illinois and McLean County Dental Society. Past President of the McLean County Dental Society and the Fairbury Rotary Club. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fairbury, Past Commander of John Joda American Legion Post #54 in Fairbury and the Manager for Claudon's Little League Baseball Team. He was also named Fairbury's Citizen of the Year in 1987. After retiring from Dentistry was the Secretary – Treasurer of Graceland Cemetery from 1988 – 1998 and traveled extensively with best friend and wife Barbara to every state in the union, Nova Scotia, Israel and Canada.

He married Irmgard "Irma" Freytag, he then married Barbara J. Steidinger on May 12, 1979 in Pontiac. She survives at Fairbury. Six children also survive: two Sons John (Maria), Naples, Italy, Robert (Joan), Hudson, IL. Four Daughters: Patty Davis, Mesa, AZ, Barbara (Mark) Sweeny, Hendersonville, NC, Laura McMinn, Fairbury, IL, Annette (Shawn) Jones, Champaign, IL. Six Granddaughters, Six Grandsons and 3 Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both parents one brother and one infant sister.

His outstanding wit, humor and gift of drawing cartoons which were published in the Blade, CAL Magazine, Weight Watcher's and Word of Mouth Newsletter of the Rotary Club will be greatly missed by, Poodle "Mikey" and wife Barbara.